What Americans fear most in 2025

According to a recent survey conducted by Chapman University, Americans are increasingly worried about various issues that affect their daily lives. The top fears of Americans in 2025 include corrupt government officials, loved ones falling ill, economic collapse, cyber-terrorism, and pollution.

In the past decade, corruption has consistently topped the list as the most feared issue among Americans. This year is no exception, with a staggering 69.1% of participants expressing fear or being very afraid of it. The rise in fear of government officials can be attributed to the increasing distrust in institutions and the lack of faith in politicians.

Coming close behind corruption are fears related to loved ones' health and economic stability. A whopping 58.9% of respondents reported that they're afraid or very afraid of a loved one becoming seriously ill, while 58.2% expressed similar concerns about economic or financial collapse.

Cyber-terrorism also made it to the top five, with 55.9% of participants expressing fear or being very afraid of its consequences. This is not surprising given the increasing reliance on technology and the growing threat of online attacks.

The survey highlights the importance of understanding and managing our fears. According to Dr. Christopher Bader, a sociologist at Chapman University, "Understanding what we're afraid of isn't about stoking anxiety, it's about putting those fears into context." By recognizing and addressing these concerns, individuals can better cope with their fears.

The survey also notes that there is often a disconnect between the things we fear and reality. For instance, fear of crime has steadily increased despite the actual decline in crime rates. This illustrates the need to separate facts from fiction and not let misinformation fuel our anxieties.

To mitigate these fears, Team Fear suggests several strategies, including limiting media exposure, researching fears, recognizing manipulative speech, building community, and more. By implementing these tactics, individuals can develop a stronger support system and gain a better understanding of their fears.

As we navigate the complexities of modern life, it's essential to acknowledge our fears and address them head-on. By doing so, we can build resilience and cultivate a more informed approach to managing our anxieties.

I'm getting really anxious about all these crazy worries people have . Corruption is like, super top of the list, but I mean, how do we even tackle that? It's like, we're talking about some heavy stuff here... and economic collapse too? Like, what if our whole system just falls apart? . And cyber-terrorism? That's just, like, scary because you can't control it . I think the key is to stay informed and all that jazz , but also not let it get the best of us... we need to find a balance. It's cool that there are strategies out there for managing our fears, though – limiting media exposure and building community sound like good starts

Honestly, I think its no surprise that corruption is still top of mind for Americans in 2025 . I mean, have you seen the state of politics lately? It's like we're living in a bad episode of The West Wing . But seriously, 69.1% is still pretty high if you ask me . I think its because people are starting to see the system for what it is - corrupt and flawed . We need to start having more open and honest conversations about how we can improve things instead of just pointing fingers . And btw, can someone please do a better job at fact-checking?

I'm still thinking about this whole corruption thing... like, 69.1% of people are super afraid of gov officials? I get it, institutions can be sketchy, but is it that bad? I mean, we've had some corrupt politicians in the past, but so many more have done good stuff too... what's changed?

And economic collapse? 58.2% are worried about that? I'd think people would be more concerned about actual financial struggles rather than just gov screwing things up... Maybe that's why they're afraid of loved ones getting sick too, 'cause it's all connected in their minds.

I'm not sure what to make of cyber-terrorism being on the list either. Like, we've had major breaches and attacks before, but so many people are just suddenly super paranoid now? Maybe it's just because it's more noticeable with all this social media stuff... anyway, gotta stay informed, right?

It's funny how our fears can be all mixed up... like, people fear crime rates going down! Who knew that was a thing?

man I'm not surprised by these results the government is super far from transparent and accountability is like a joke 69% of people are worried about corrupt officials? that's crazy! it's like we're living in a dystopian novel where our leaders are more interested in lining their pockets than serving us.

I'm low-key freaking out about this survey . Like, I get it, corruption is super frustrating and economic instability is terrifying. But what's really concerning me is that cyber-terrorism has actually made it into the top 5 . I mean, we're talking about a world where our online presence can be exploited to cause real harm... it's not just some dystopian sci-fi movie scenario anymore.

I think what's missing from this conversation is the role of education and critical thinking in addressing these fears . We need to teach people how to evaluate information, identify biases, and separate fact from fiction. Otherwise, we'll just be perpetuating a cycle of anxiety and mistrust .

And let's not forget that our fears are often rooted in systemic issues, like income inequality and lack of access to healthcare . We need to address the root causes of these problems if we want to create real change .

you know what's wild? people are still freaked out about corrupt officials like what did we expect from the past 20+ years of bush and obama? or trump... but seriously, it's crazy how much distrust we have towards institutions now. i mean, can't we just have some faith in our leaders for once? also, loved ones falling ill is something nobody should ever fear my grandma lived a whole 10 years after everyone said she wouldn't make it and economic collapse doesn't seem that far-fetched to me but cyber-terrorism tho... that's just scary like what if our entire digital lives get deleted?

I mean, what's with all these surveys about people's fears? Can't they see that it's just an excuse for clickbait headlines ? "69.1% of Americans are afraid of corrupt government officials"... yeah, no kidding! What do we really know about corruption anymore? It's like, a given at this point. And what's with the percentages? Can't they be more specific? Like, how many people exactly are freaking out about this stuff?

And don't even get me started on cyber-terrorism. 55.9% of people are afraid of it... okay, I guess that's a decent number. But like, what's the actual likelihood of something going down? It's all just speculation and paranoia at this point.

You know what would be more helpful? A survey on how to deal with these fears in a healthy way . Or maybe some actual advice on how to manage anxiety instead of just telling us to "limit media exposure" or "research our fears". Like, that's not exactly rocket science...

I don't usually comment but I think it's kinda wild how much people are worried about cyber-terrorism these days Like we know the risks are real but 55.9% is pretty high. I'm not gonna lie, I get paranoid about online stuff too, but I try to stay informed and not let fear get the best of me

I'm not buying into this whole "fear management" thing . I mean, what's the point of trying to put your fears into context if they're still gonna be there? Corruption is corrupt, cyber-terrorism is a real threat, and pollution is a serious issue... it's not like we can just magic those away by having a chat about them .

I think people are getting caught up in the fear-mongering game . We need to focus on concrete solutions rather than just talking about our fears all day. Limiting media exposure might help, but what about the systemic issues that really matter? And don't even get me started on building community... that's just a fancy way of saying "social pressure" .

I'm not saying we shouldn't be aware of these problems or try to address them... but let's not pretend like fear management is the answer . We need real change, not just some feel-good self-help nonsense .

people are freakin worried about all this stuff and honestly it's kinda normal i mean how many times have u been like "what if" about some random thing but on the other hand 69% is pretty crazy some people r just really concerned about gov officials which tbh makes sense idk what's gonna happen with our country tho anyway it's good to know we ain't alone in feelin anxious about stuff

I'm seeing this everywhere ... people are freaking out about everything! Corruption is still number one on the list, but what's crazy is how many ppl are worried about cyber-terrorism too. Like, I get it, online threats are real, but is it really as bad as we think? And what's with all these fears about our loved ones getting sick or economic collapse? It feels like we're living in a perpetual state of anxiety . Maybe we need to take a step back and reassess what's really going on. The survey is right, though - it's not about stoking anxiety, it's about putting our fears into perspective . We need to separate fact from fiction and not let misinformation fuel our worries . I'm all for building community and limiting media exposure, but can we also focus on promoting positivity and good vibes instead of just perpetuating fear?

people are getting anxious about stuff that might not even happen I mean 69% of americans are worried about corrupt gov officials but like what's the worst thing thats gonna happen? we gotta chill out a bit and think this thru instead of just being all fearful all the time

I'm kinda surprised that cyber-terrorism made it to the top five ... I mean, don't get me wrong, online safety is super important, but I think people are overthinking this one . Like, we're all aware of the risks and we can take steps to protect ourselves - use strong passwords, be cautious with clicks... yada yada. Is it really that scary?

I feel you... these are some legit concerns that people got right now . Corruption is like, super frustrating and affects everyone's life in some way. It's not surprising that it's at the top of people's fears list . And I get why loved ones' health and economic stability are major worries too - life is unpredictable and we can't control everything . Cyber-terrorism is like, a constant threat nowadays... how are we supposed to stay safe online? It's crazy that people are afraid of something that's not even as bad as it's made out to be in the media . Anyways, I think what this survey is trying to say is that acknowledging our fears is key... and finding ways to deal with them is way more important than letting them consume us .